Ghost in the machine : a philosophical analysis of the relationship between brain-computer interface applications and their users

In this thesis I have explored the relationship between brain-computer interface (BCI) applications and their users from three philosophical perspectives. This is important for at least three reasons. First, a better understanding of this relationship can result in a more efficient
design of this technology, which is beneficial for both the user and designer. Second, the outcome of this analysis could be used as a point of departure for a discussion on the moral desirability of BCI-systems, for example, in terms of personal identity or autonomy. And a third reason is, a better understanding of human-technology relations contributes to a philosophical anthropological notion of what it means to be human, which has intrinsic value. The overall research question I have attempted to answer is:
What is the functional, epistemological and phenomenological relationship between BCIs, their applications and their users?